Jan 12 How To Capture Ideas

“The tech tools post you wrote last week was helpful. However, I’m interested in how you use Scrivener to capture ideas.”

My friend doesn’t consider herself a “writer,” but she was looking for ways to capture ideas in a more effective format. As we were talking, I thought it would be fun to share how I capture ideas with you! I’ve talked about my writing tools before, but in this article I’ll dive a little deeper.

Notecards & Journal

I carry notecards everywhere; along with my journal too. Usually when I’m out bicycling or walking, ideas seem to flood into my mind and notecards are the perfect way to capture ideas. Plus, a few notecards and a pen are lightweight and fit perfectly in my jacket pocket.

Here's an example of what my notecards typically look like . . .

I learned about the notecard concept while reading Bird by Bird early last year; however I didn’t start using the system until December. The notecards I use are simple, 3 x 5, white cards that are blank on one side and have lines on the other. You can buy them at any office supply store.

For a long time I used tiny post-it notes to capture ideas. However, the post-it notes were hard to keep track of. Typically I’d post them on the cover of my journal, but they always seemed to fall off. Now my white notecards are a jumping off point for articles and longer writing projects.

Once I have the idea written down, I start a draft in my journal. For me, there is something comforting about putting a pen to a piece of paper. It’s less intimidating because I give myself permission to write a shitty first draft, to misspell words and repeat myself. Whereas, I have a tendency to go into editing mode on the computer.

Scrivener

Eventually, the ideas on my notecards and in my journal are transcribed into Scrivener. Then I start the editing process.

Scrivener is a wonderful tool to organize projects and perfect for someone like me because I don’t write in a linear fashion. The program has all kinds of fun features. For example, I use it as a cork-board, a place to edit multiple documents, and the collection feature makes it easy for me to see the flow of a longer project, like an ebook or course.

Last Words

I try to be open to new ideas and concepts; especially when it comes to capturing ideas. For example, Logan told me about a recent podcast on meditation and creativity; the guest discussed how people can gain creative insights from the practice. You never know how a book, podcast, or even meditation can enhance creativity and your ability to capture it.

Micro-action: Make a list of how you capture ideas for creative projects.